LisaLemanski
Agent/Owner
Meiers Lombardini LemanskiInsurance
East Lansing, Mich.

Years at company: 4.

What to do with a comparative politicsdegree: After I graduated from Aquinas College inGrand Rapids, Mich., in 2003, with a degree in comparativepolitics, I couldn't find a job. My husband had been working as aclaims rep for Auto-Owners Insurance Co. in Michigan at the time,and he suggested that I apply for a commercial underwritingposition there. I ended up working at Auto-Owners for eight years,after which I followed my husband to work at his uncle'sagency.

Learning the nuts andbolts: When I was a underwriter, I waspromoted to a home office position. There, I learned how aninsurance company runs: I saw how rates were decided and how newcoverages were developed and implemented. Because I worked at acarrier, I understand forms and know what an insurer is lookingfor. It's easy for me to place business with carriers, because Ifeel like I have a different perception of why a company would say“no” to coverage. I may not like it, but I do understand it.

The next gen is in the house: It wastough coming onboard the agency as owners for my husband and me, inpart because we are significantly younger than the previous ownerswho were my husband's uncle and his partner. We wanted to make surethat they didn't feel like we were pushing them out. We wanted themto still feel appreciated and part of the agency. But at the sametime, there were changes to be made. We now have both a[traditional] website and a mobile website, which we didn't havebefore. The partner has since passed away, but we perpetuated theagency before that. My husband's uncle is still here with us in theoffice; he turns 70 this year.

High honors from the Big “I”: The Big“I” has been huge for my development. When I first started at ouragency, the average age was in the mid-50s, so that is whatprompted me to get involved with its Young Agents Committee. I'm sohumbled by winning the Outstanding Young Agent of the Year award fromYAC. It has been such an awesome experience. It's hard for mebecause I'm not one who likes a lot of attention, but I do what Ido because I like my job. This work challenges me and I always feellike I should be doing more. We help our clients in their darkestdays and in their happiest times. I get to educate people aboutinsurance, and I am incredibly honored that my council at theMichigan Association of Insurance Agents would even nominateme.